Wheaton accepting applications to help seniors with housing costs

The Wheaton Housing Commission is accepting applications for the Senior Housing Program through Feb. 28. (Quan Truong, Chicago Tribune)

The city of Wheaton is accepting applications for its annual program to help seniors with housing costs, assistance that officials say is crucial to helping people stay in their homes.

The city will set a budget later this year for how much money will be available from May through April of 2015.

"We find that, with increasing costs, it seems like everything goes up except income. So this is a valuable benefit to our community seniors to enable them to stay in their homes," said, Sharon Barrett-Hagen, city clerk. "They're facing a lot of challenges."

Last year, the budget for the May 2013 through April 2014 program was set at $99,000 and 68 seniors were chosen for the program. The amount of assistance they each received per month ranged from $65-$180, Barrett-Hagen said.

The amount they'll receive for the next cycle will depend on how much money is budgeted and how many apply. There also are different levels of assistance available.

To qualify, Wheaton seniors must be at least 65 years old, have resided in Wheaton for at least 3 years and have an annual household income of less than $21,650. Applications are due by Feb. 28 and, if accepted, assistance will be offered from May through April of 2015.

"It's very much a quality of life issue for Wheaton residents," said Chuck Meek, chairman of the Wheaton Housing Commission, which oversees the program.

The program is geared primarily toward helping seniors who do not get other types of assistance and do not live in subsidized housing.

"We really focus on those seniors who do not have other means of assistance, and they're not subsidized in any way. They're homeowners who have lived in the same home for 50 years," Meek said. "They have property taxes to pay and need to buy food and, increasingly, their medicine."

The number of people who participate each year fluctuate and the budgeted amount for the program is typically in line with the cost-of-living adjustments, he added.

For more information, visit wheaton.il.us, call Barrett-Hagen at 630-260-2012, or go to city hall at 303 W. Wesley Street.